iMessage Goof Leaves It Operational After Remote Wipe

A number of consumers who've had their iPhones stolen are reporting that Apple's iMessage SMS-replacement service continues to operate on the stolen iPhone under their Apple ID even after the device is wiped, the Apple ID password changed, and the phone number transferred to a new device. The result is that the thieves or new owners of the stolen iPhone are able to send and receive iMessages as the original owner. Security experts have offered several theories as to why the issue is occurring, but Apple has not provided an explanation for this phenomenon. It represents an obvious security and privacy risk, as the thieves/new owners can pose as the original owner. According to posts in Apple's support forums, the only reported fix is for users to change their Apple ID entirely when setting up a new device and deactivating the old one.